Army Medic Returns Fire and Saves Life with Improvised Chest Seal

On a June evening in 2023, gunfire shattered the quiet at an apartment complex in Fayetteville, North Carolina. For Sgt. Brian Lieberman of the 82nd Airborne Division, it was not a moment to retreat—but to respond.

Lieberman—a trained Army medic—heard the shots erupt outside his residence. He retrieved a firearm and stepped out to confront the danger head-on. What he found was chaos—a shooter actively firing in the complex. Lieberman engaged the assailant, returning fire in a bold and immediate act of defense. His actions caused the gunman to flee, halting the initial wave of violence.

But the work was only just beginning.

As he moved through the area, bystanders directed him to a 14-year-old girl who had been struck by gunfire. Drawing on his combat medical training, Lieberman identified a gunshot wound in the girl’s lower back. Her breathing was labored—classic signs of a developing tension pneumothorax, where air trapped in the chest cavity threatens to collapse a lung.

Without access to a trauma kit, Lieberman did what he could: he improvised. Using a plastic grocery bag, he created a makeshift chest seal, covering the wound to stabilize her breathing until medics could arrive. Nobody wants to improvise medical gear but it is better than doing nothing.

A Tension Pneumothorax or Sucking Chest Wound

As he rendered aid, the danger returned. The shooter came back to the scene, again opening fire. Lieberman shielded the wounded girl with his own body and returned fire once more—driving off the attacker a second time.

His combined use of combat medicine and defensive force likely saved not only the girl’s life, but potentially others as well. For his actions, Lieberman was awarded the prestigious Soldier’s Medal—the Army’s highest award for heroism not involving conflict with an enemy. That award was presented just days ago, in May 2025, bringing renewed attention to this incredible act of bravery from nearly two years prior.

A Rare and Teachable Moment

This incident is rare on many levels. It’s not often that we report on a situation involving both a defensive gun use (DGU) and combat-level medical intervention, much less the use of an improvised chest seal. For seasoned medics and civilians alike, Lieberman’s quick thinking and decisive action should be a case study in both preparedness and courage.

One key takeaway: while Lieberman succeeded in improvising a life-saving intervention, not everyone will be as trained or composed under pressure. This story underscores the importance of having quality trauma gear on hand. A chest seal, tourniquet, and hemostatic gauze are not just tools for soldiers—they’re life-saving resources for responsible citizens.

If you don’t already have a trauma kit, now’s the time to change that. You can explore reliable and field-tested options at MountainManMedical.com.

Sgt. Lieberman’s bravery serves as a reminder of the life-or-death value of readiness. And in a moment where one man’s willingness to act made all the difference, both his firearm and his first aid knowledge proved essential.